Emerging in the 17th century, chinoiserie appropriated the aesthetics and imagery of popular East Asian design for European-made versions. Reflecting the exoticization of China, Japan and other countries in this era, the word directly translates from French to “Chinese-esque,” which reveals its shortcomings as a style of furniture and decor that often stereotypically and reductively mimics Asian culture rather than showcasing and paying tribute to its artistic traditions.
The enthusiastically decorative chinoiserie style was propelled by influential tastemakers including French King Louis XIV, whose Trianon de Porcelaine in 1670 was inspired by Chinese architecture. Expanded trade between the East and West led to a demand for porcelain, lacquer objects, silk and other goods, which further informed the fanciful furniture being crafted in Europe.
Artisans working in the chinoiserie style used materials and elements like pagoda shapes, bamboo, lacquer surfaces, bird and flower motifs and other interpretations of Asian design on pieces that were frequently set against vibrant wallcoverings. This whimsical approach yielded chinoiserie furniture that boasted dramatic flourishes drawing on the natural world and reflected the dominance of Rococo during the 18th century.
As chinoiserie was shaped by approximations of Asian design by European creators, it had regional variations, such as Chinese Chippendale in England where cabinets, chairs and tea tables had wooden fretwork designs and “japanned” surfaces intended to resemble lacquer work that was created in East Asia. In North America, furniture makers in Boston and New York integrated chinoiserie-painted scenes into Queen Anne furniture.
Antique chinoiserie furniture has continued to be fashionable, from its popularity with decorators of the Hollywood Regency era — James Mont, Tommi Parzinger, William Haines and Samuel Marx favored the style — to contemporary interior designers, although it brings with it a complex history.
Find a collection of chinoiserie bedroom furniture, cabinets, decorative objects and more on 1stDibs.
Chinoiserie Jacobean Hand Painted Sideboard Server, Bar Table, or Center Table
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous hand painted Chinoiserie Jacobean bar height sideboard server, bar table, or center table In the manner of Theodore Alexander Circa Late 20th Century Carved walnut, wit...
Brass
$2,320Sale Price|20% Off
Indonesian Fret Work Alter Console Table
Located in Pasadena, TX
Indonesian fret work alter console table Intricately carved teak table that folds down for portability. Mother of pearl inlay on table top. M...
Teak
Pair of Vintage Italian Chinoiserie and Faux Bamboo Tole Serving Carts
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Chic pair of vintage Italian tole off white serving or bar carts having two tiers of removable trays, with galleries, decorated in Chinoiserie on faux bamboo supports with casters.
Faux Bamboo
Josef Frank Folding Bar Cart or Side Table by Svensk Tenn
By Josef Frank
Located in Munich, DE
Light and easy to store foldable table with a nice print by Josef Frank.
Formica
$1,800
H 30.71 in W 33.86 in D 3.15 in
Space Age Vintage Red Orange Serving Table or Bar Cart 1960s Germany
Located in Vienna, AT
Space Age vintage serving cart or bar cart or gueridon in a happy making color tone red orange from laminate and metal. The bar cart shows a foldable feature. For a good mobility th...
Metal
Antique Jacobean Style Turned Oak Tiered Server
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A tiered Jacobean Server with bold form, great age patina and three tiers. Made in three tiers, the top and second tier with carved friezes in a pattern of textured squares and small...
Oak
$2,695
H 27.25 in W 53.75 in D 15.75 in
English Chippendale Console Table, Mahogany, Fret Work Design, 1980s
By Baker Furniture Company, Kindel Furniture
Located in Southampton, NJ
Bespoke 20th C. English Console table with Chinese Chippendale styling in the pierced fret work, gorgeous fiery Mahogany wood grains and larks tongue chamfered detailing to the legs....
Mahogany
Console, Table, Painted, Steel, Bronze, Lion, Sculpture
Located in BUNGAY, SUFFOLK
A painted steel, console table with a shaped frieze inspired by a 17th century, Flemish cabinet. Standing on turned legs joined by an ‘H’ stretcher with a bronze, sculpted lion on on...
Bronze, Steel
$3,599Sale Price / item|20% Off
H 31.5 in W 70.87 in D 21.66 in
Console Table, High Gloss Laminate & Brass Details, Burgundy - L
Located in Alcoy, Alicante
Julieta Collection. Console Table with High Gloss Top, Brass Tape Framed, Black Powder Coating Conical Legs with Brass End Introducing the stunning console table with black powder...
Brass
19thC Primitive Elm Pine Butchers Work Table
Located in Staffordshire, GB
Circa 1890. 19thC Primitive elm pine butchers work table, elm legs and thick rustic pine top. Well suited as a kitchen island or prep table. ...
Elm, Pine
$2,250
H 37.75 in W 39.5 in D 16 in
Russian Neoclassical Style Console/Server or Commode with Marble Top
Located in Stamford, CT
Russian neoclassical style console with inverted sides and marble top. This fine Maison Jansen inspired console table or serving tab...
Mahogany
Italian Console Table with Marble Top
Located in Woodbury, CT
This handsome neoclassical table in cream paint and parcel-gilt has a fluted apron with foliate carvings while the rose marble top has a cream marble beaded edge. Perfectly sized for...
Marble
Large Gray Painted and Limestone Console Table
Located in Dallas, TX
Large console table with a limestone top and caved wood acanthus leaf legs with a gray painted finish.
Limestone
Coastal Long Console Table
Located in Westwood, NJ
Coastal long console table with a white limestone top, wire-brushed cerused pine in our Sea Salt finish with two long drawers accented with four org...
Wood
$8,625Sale Price|25% Off
H 31.5 in W 53 in D 22 in
18th Century English Chinese Chippendale Console Table
Located in Savannah, GA
Classic English Chinese Chippendale mahogany side table with molded top. The banded apron frieze is decorated with chinoiserie fretwork and the upper legs feature pierced corner brac...
Mahogany
20th Century Oriental Tray Table on a Bamboo Stand
Located in Linkebeek, BE
Serving Table - Chinese Measures : 64x37cm H:75,5cm Very refined tray table with removable tray with oriental origins, probably from 1920s China.The frame looks pleasantly fragile a...
Bamboo, Wood
Vintage Chinoiserie Hand Painted Butler Tray Side Table
Located in Vero Beach, FL
Vintage Chinoiserie Hand Painted Butler tray side table Versatile end table with exceptional Chinoiserie painting on a removable hardwood tra...
Metal
Chinoiserie Painted Serving Table
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
Superb 18th century pine serving table. This pine table features a superb 19th century Chinoiserie decoration throughout. To the top of this table, there is a variety of cartouch...
Giltwood
Sold
H 10 in W 23 in D 12.75 in
Burnt Tiger Wood Bamboo Breakfast Bed Tray with Magazine Rack and Cup Holder
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
Breakfast in bed never looked so good! A gorgeous burnt bamboo or tiger bamboo bed tray with a magazine rack and cup holder. Created from pieces of bro...
Bamboo, Rattan, Wood
Sold
H 29.25 in Dm 35.25 in
Baker Historic Charleston Japanned Leather Round Tilt Top Tea Table Chinoiserie
Located in Dayton, OH
Baker Furniture Company Historic Charleston Japanned tilt-top tea table, in the Regency or Empire style. Features a circular top with embossed gilt landscape and figural decoration, a secondary band of embossed gilt foliate and figural vignette decoration with a fret border, over a turned baluster that terminates into a triangular base with gilt decoration and gilt paw feet. Label en verso of top reads "Baker Historic Charleston Reproductions...
Leather, Hardwood
Sold
H 31 in W 37.008 in D 22 in
Mastercraft, Mid-Century Modern Serving Wagons, Gold Brass, Black Lacquer, 1960s
By Mastercraft
Located in Stamford, CT
A pair of Mid-Century Modern master-craft brass acid etched bar-carts or serving wagons. This one of a kind pair of simply stunning bar carts or ser...
Brass
Sold
H 38 in W 30.25 in D 18 in
Chinoiserie Style Cinnabar Red Two Tier Bar Cart with Removable Tray Top
Located in Hopewell, NJ
An elegant cinnabar red and gold chinoiserie decorated bar or serving cart having a removable tray that's aged mirror with black and gold painted decoration. The body of the cart has...
Wood
Elegant French Brass Faux Bamboo Bar Cart with Removable Tray Top
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
A stylish French bar cart or drinks trolley. Clever design allows for top to lift off and become a serving tray. Faux bamboo-very well made, vintage ca' 1970's, in the style of Bague...
Midcentury Asian Console Table or Server
Located in Atlanta, GA
Midcentury Asian console table or server, Asian, circa 1950s. This piece is a versatile size and can be used as a console or sofa table, server, or b...
Metal, Brass
Sold
H 22 in W 30 in D 23 in
Scalloped Tole Metal Serving Tray Coffee Tea Table Black Faux Bamboo Chinoiserie
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Beautiful hand-painted tole metal serving tray table. Item features removable tole metal scalloped tray, hand-painted details, wooden faux bamboo base, and elegant style and form, ci...
Metal
Victorian Bamboo Chinoiserie Side Table
Located in Mt Kisco, NY
A late 19th century bamboo hand-painted and lacquered table with hanging sides.
Bamboo
Two-Tier Bar Table with Brass Bamboo Detailing
Located in Palm Desert, CA
Polished brass faux bamboo frame with a gallery around the top shelve and polished black shelving inserts are the highlights of this lovely bar table. T...
Brass